Francis Thomas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Francis Thomas
United States Minister to Peru
In office July 10, 1872 – July 5, 1875
President	Ulysses S. Grant
Preceded by	Thomas Settle
Succeeded by	Richard Gibbs
26th Governor of Maryland
In office January 3, 1842 – January 6, 1845
Preceded by	William Grason
Succeeded by	Thomas Pratt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland
In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869
Preceded by	Henry May
Succeeded by	Patrick Hamill
Constituency	4th
In office March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863
Preceded by	Jacob Michael Kunkel
Succeeded by	Benjamin Gwinn Harris
Constituency	5th
In office March 4, 1835 – March 3, 1841
Preceded by	William Cost Johnson
Succeeded by	John Thomson Mason, Jr.
Constituency	6th
In office March 4, 1833 – March 3, 1835
Preceded by	John Leeds Kerr
Succeeded by	Daniel Jenifer
Constituency	7th
In office March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833
Preceded by	Michael Sprigg
Succeeded by	James P. Heath
Constituency	4th
Chair of the House Judiciary Committee
In office 1836–1839
Preceded by	Samuel Beardsley
Succeeded by	John Sergeant
Collector of Internal Revenue for Maryland
In office 1870–1872
Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office 1829
Preceded by	John Grant Chapman
Succeeded by	Richard Thomas
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
In office 1822 1827 1829
Personal details
Born	February 3, 1799 Frederick County, Maryland
Died	January 22, 1876 (age 76) Frankville, Maryland
Political party	Democrat Unconditional Unionist Republican
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Francis Thomas (February 3, 1799 – January 22, 1876) was an important American politician from Maryland. He served as the 26th Governor of Maryland and was also a United States Representative. Later in his career, he became the United States minister to Peru. He also served as speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates in 1829.

Early Life and Career

Francis Thomas was born in Frederick County, Maryland, near South Mountain, in 1799. He went to St. John's College in Annapolis. After college, he studied law and became a lawyer in 1820, starting his practice in Frankville, Maryland.

Maryland House of Delegates

Thomas began his political journey in the Maryland House of Delegates. He was a member in 1822, 1827, and 1829. In 1829, he even served as the Speaker of the House, which is like being the leader of the state's law-making body.

First Time in the U.S. House of Representatives

Francis Thomas was elected to the United States House of Representatives several times. He served from March 4, 1831, until March 3, 1841. During his time in Congress, he was the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. This committee helps make sure laws are fair and constitutional. He was also involved with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company.

Governor of Maryland

In 1841, Thomas was elected Governor of Maryland. He won by a small number of votes against William Cost Johnson. During his time as governor, he faced some personal challenges that affected his political future. He had been considered a possible candidate for President of the United States, but these challenges stopped him from seeking the nomination.

As governor, Thomas inherited a big state debt. He suggested a direct tax on the people to help pay it off, but this idea was not popular. He was also strongly against slavery, which was a brave position in Maryland at the time. He believed slavery was "unworthy of enlightened statesmen." He served as governor from 1842 to 1845.

Return to Congress

After being governor, Thomas continued his public service. He was part of the Maryland State Constitutional convention in 1850. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives again in 1861. He served as a Unionist, then an Unconditional Unionist, and finally as a Republican. He stayed in Congress until March 3, 1869. By the time he left, he had served a total of nine terms over almost four decades.

Collector of Internal Revenue

From 1870 to 1872, Thomas worked as the collector of internal revenue for Maryland. This job involved collecting taxes for the government.

Minister to Peru

President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Francis Thomas to be the United States Minister to Peru. He held this important diplomatic position from March 25, 1872, to July 9, 1875. This meant he represented the U.S. in Peru.

Retirement and Death

After his time as Minister to Peru, Francis Thomas retired from public life. He spent his time working on his farm near Frankville, Maryland.

Sadly, on January 22, 1876, while overseeing work on his estate, he was hit by a locomotive and died instantly. He was 76 years old. Francis Thomas is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Cumberland, Maryland.